What else can be said? Let's face facts here: this RSL team is terrible and continues to show it week after week. This week's showcase of suck came against Toronto FC.
I had a bad feeling coming into this game and now I know why. RSL was beaten at home at altitude against an expansion team that had not won a road game up until this point. Just sad. The first half, however, was surprisingly decent. Findley made an amazing play early to get open and was denied, not by TFC, but by the post. A few minutes later, freshly shorn Jeff Cunningham scored the opening goal off a nice header flick by Dichio. Let's just forget the fact that Cunningham was very clearly offside, the officiating crew certainly did. After that RSL really and truly controlled the game for the rest of the half and really should have put together a couple of scores, but as usual, the finishing was awful. Late in the first half Alecko got free in the box and was subsequently tackled from behind (NFL, not soccer,
1st half grade: B+
The second half, to be generous, was a disaster. RSL looked completely lost and Toronto took control. You'd think RSL were the ones having issues with the altitude. But somehow RSL hung around despite numerous defensive slip-ups and very pedestrian midfield play. Then it happened. On yet another horrible play out of the midfield Samuel got past Kipre with the ball. Kipre hit him a little (although to be honest, I've seen much worse go uncalled) and a PK was given, which was a bit iffy also because it appeared to me that the contact was outside the box. But then, these are MLS referees and they seem to exist in a different reality from the rest of us. Samuel put away the PK, and then it was thank you, good night, drive home safely. Toronto 2 RSL 1.
2nd half grade: D-
This was a VERY winnable game for RSL, especially coming off of a bye week AND a win, and they blew it. It was really painful to watch and I was kinda left feeling that I wanted that hour and a half of my life back.
Interestingly, on the TFC PK, the local color guy (former RSL player Brian Dunseth, very good) said it was a makeup call for the RSL PK and that refs look to make up any PKs they call. That is not right...if a team earns a penalty that is obvious (such as Esky's in this game) they should not be penalized for it. That's ridiculous. Like I said about MLS refs and reality...
Also interesting were a couple quotes from TFC coach (and obvious assclown) Mo Johnston (thanks to RSL's home page for the quotes).
On the Samuel penalty: "He drew that PK, which I felt was a red card; I feel that's the last man." Hmm...first he really didn't draw much contact. Second, and more importantly, Esky was the last man WHEN TWO OF YOUR PLAYERS TACKLED HIM FROM BEHIND!!! If that's not a red, Kipre's certainly isn't. Assclown.
On the game (and its chippiness at times): "I felt [RSL] were over aggressive, in a lot of ways. We came here to play soccer and I don't think there was much soccer played. I'm disappointed in that part; we're a good soccer team and the tactics that you saw tonight weren't acceptable." Hmmm...Mo, I don't know what game you were watching but RSL was not aggressive in any facet of the game. Had they been, they would have won. Also, if you are implying that RSL was dirty and too physical (which he is), I once again say, what game were you watching? From the tackle on Esky to JC nearly punching out Andy Williams (who hadn't even been the one to foul him) to JC's tirades against the refs to etc., etc., etc. it was your team playing a bit dirty. Did you see Robinson in this game? O'Brien's body slam of "Red Card" Kotschau? No? Maybe you should watch the game next time. Assclown.
Game grade: D-
Pros:
-Esky scored! Esky scored!
-Findley looks like a stud.
-Medhi wasn't playing central mid! It's about time!
-Jack Stewart stupidly threw a ball at a TFC player and later kicked Samuel in the back of the head behind the play. Neither was called but the league will obviously suspend him. This will improve our defense by virtue of him not being on the field to screw things up as he usually does.
-Jamie Watson played amazingly well in his short stint in the game and even hit the crossbar on a play that would have tied it.
-I was at the Bees game where Salt Lake hit a homerun with two outs in the ninth to win, so I didn't sit home and watch the game live. I recorded it and was able to get through the game faster (1x fast forward on the directv dvr is brilliant for watching soccer, especially slow parts)
Cons:
-The defense was pretty shaky, especially in the second half
-The midfield was awful in the second half.
-The whole team was awful in the second half.
-The refs as usual
-RSL lost yet again.
-The KSL play by play guy (Tom Kirkland, I believe) is AWFUL and obviously knows next to nothing about the game of soccer.
Player grades:
Nick Rimando-7 solid but unspectacular
Jean-Martial Kipre-5 just decent until the penalty
Eddie Pope-6 strangely quiet game
Jack Stewart-5 went insane, kicked a dude in the head
Ritchie Kotschau-6 quiet but not many big mistakes
Carey Talley-6 solid hardnosed play
Atiba Harris-7 gets into everything, his kind of game: chippy
Andy Williams-6 did ok running the midfield, 2nd half was ugly
sub-(Jamie Watson 73)-8 like savoir faire, he was everywhere
Mehdi Ballouchy-6 still bad crosses & set pieces, but looked better on the left
Robbie Findley-7 very aggresive, very fast, caused problems
sub-(Kyle Brown 70)-7 did pretty well, played with some passion
Alecko Eskandarian-8 worked hard as usual, deserved the goal
RSL man of the match: Alecko Eskandarian
1 comment:
funny and accurate work as always. great to have you suit up on the blogosphere pitch.
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